Door lock and latch mechanism



June 9,1964 K.A.LYTLE DOOR LOCK AND LATCH MECHANISM Filed Dec. 1, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 zjmmm/m June 9, 1964 K. A. LYTLE DOOR LOCK AND LATCH MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

mfmm mjm W 7 51 N my June 9, 1964 K, A, LYTLE 3,136,572

' DOOR LOCK AND LATCH MECHANISM Filed Dec. 1, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. KEN/v57 19 lyiz E June 9, 1964 LYTLE 3,136,572

DOOR LOCK AND LATCH MECHANISM Filed Dec. 1, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. HEN/V57 H. lyrzs 4r raOA/Eys.

June 9, 1964 K. A. LYTLE 3,136,572

DOOR LOCK AND LATCH MECHANISM Filed Dec. 1, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 z y c I13 5 72 INVENTOR. KEN/VET A. LX725 flrramvsys.

June 9, 1964 K. A. LYTLE DOOR LOCK AND LATCH MECHANISM INVENTOR.

L TAE 147 ramvsys.

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 KEN/v57 44.

Filed Dec. 1, 1961 United States Patent 3,136,572 DOOR LOCK AND LATCH MECHANESM Kenneth A. Lytic, Alhambra, Ca'iifi, assignor to .Iaybee Manufacturing Corporation, Los Angeies, Calih, a corporation of Caiifornia Filed Dec. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 156,364 13 Claims. (Cl. 292-336.3)

This invention relates to door lock and latch mechanism in which a latch retractor is moved inwardly by angular movement of spindles located on opposite sides 7 of the door in which the latch retractor is located.

A great deal of time is required for a carpenter to fit a door to a door frame. Often a fit is satisfactory except for the fact that the latch bolt doesnt fully enter the latch recess provided on the 'jamb. One object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an improved latch structure in which the latch bolt has a very substantial movement between advanced and retracted positions, and in which no extra wrist movement is required by the person operating the door spindle.

In prior lock or latch mechanisms of the type utilizing a central housing accommodated in a through cylindrical bore in the door, spindles projecting therefrom soon begin to wear in their bearings and an annoying wobble or looseness results. An object of this invention is to provide a new improved structure for supporting the spindles for angular movement whereby, instead of the uncertain cantilever arrangement of prior art devices, the spindle is firmly supported at both of its ends.

Another object of this invention is to provide an exceptionally smooth action for movement of the latch retractor. For this purpose, the latch retractor moves on a simple ball bearing structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved mechanism whereby the outer spindle is locked against rotation by a simple push button arrangement, the lock being released automatically upon inward movement of the latch retractor resulting from angular movement of the inner spindle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simplified lock or latch mechanism that can be made by standard manufacturing processes.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose, there is shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the present specification, and which drawings, unless as otherwise indicated, are true scale. This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of this invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the door and jamb structure at which a door lock set incorporating the present invention is installed, the lock being shown in elevation;

FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view of the lock shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along a plane corresponding to line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 and'S are enlarged sectional views taken along planes corresponding to lines 4i-4 and 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary axial sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but on an enlarged scale;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are sectional views taken along planes corresponding to lines 7-7 and 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along a plane corresponding to line 99 of FIG. 8;

$336,572 A Patented June 9, 1964 "ice FIG. 10 is an elevation of the bearing post forming a part of the present invention, a portion of the apparatus being broken away and shown in section;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are enlarged sectional views taken along planes corresponding to lines 11-11 and 1212 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is an exploded view showing several parts of the lock set;

FIG. 14 is a pictorial view of the outside bearing post extension;

FIG. 15 is a pictorial view of the latch retractor and cam structure; and

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along a plane corresponding to line 1616 of FIG. 3.

The door lock as shown in FIG. 1, is by way of example, installed ata cylindrical bore 10 located near the edge 11 of a minimum thickness door 12. The lock includes, generally, a housing 13 located in .the bore 10 and inside and outside spindles 14 and 1S projecting therefrom. Inside and outside knobs 16 and 17 attached .to the ends of the respective spindles serve conventionally to rotate them.

In a manner to be hereinafter described, rotation of the spindles 14 and 15 cause retraction of a latch bolt 18. The latch bolt is mounted in a housing 19, in turn installed at a transverse bore 20 extending inwardly from the door edge 11. to the center of the cylindrical bore 10. The latch bolt 13 cooperates with a strike plate 21 fastened to the door jarnb 22.

The housing 13, as shown in FIG. 13, is a generally cylindrical thin sheet metal shell. An end wall 23 of thicker material is fixedly attached at one end opening of the housing 13. A partition wall 23a is accommodated in the casing 13 in spaced parallel relationship to the end wall 23. The housing 13 has a slot 24 (see also FIG. 4) extending along one side that is adapted to interlock with lugs 25 and 26 projecting from the latch bolt housing 19. The walls 23 and 23a have segments removed in order to expose the ends of the slot 24. The lugs 25 and 26 project rearwardly of housing 19 anddiverge to engage behind the edges of housing slot 24. Thus the latch bolt housing 19 is installed in its bore 20 before the housing 13 is inserted in its bore 10. The slot 24 is aligned with the lugs before the housing is installed.

The housing '13 mounts a latch retractor 27 between the walls 23 and 23a (FIGS. 13 and .15). The retractor 2'7 cooperates with the latch bolt 18 in a manner to be hereinafter described. The central part 28 of the latch retractor is made from a strip of flat material bent to loop form. The latch retractor also includes two bearing plates 29* and 30. The central part 28 has an opening 31 defined by opposed jaws'32 and 33-between which (FIG. 8) the T-head 35 of the latch bolt 18'is received. Thus as the retractor 27 moves to the right, as viewed in FIG. 4, the latch bolt 18 is retracted.

The bearing plates 29 and'3t) (FIGS. l5, l3 and 9) are generally rectangular in configuration, and overlie and extend beyond the openings at opposite ends of the central retractor part 28. The plates .have aligned central openings 29a and 30a. However, the jaw parts 32 and 33 project forwardly of corresponding frontal edges of the bearing plates 29 and 30 so as to expose them for insertion of the T-head 35. A peripheral channel is formed between the bearing plates 29 and 3t along the exterior of the central part 28 ofthe latch retractor.

The bearing plates 2a and 30 are supported for sliding movement by the casing walls 23 and 23a. The bearing plate 30 has on its outer side, four rectangularly located small hemispherical recesses 36, 37, 38 and 39 (FIG. 13) that may be aligned with upper and lower parallel raceways 4t} and 41 (FIG. 8) formed an the inside of the housing end plate 23. Thus the recesses 36 and 37 may be aligned with the upper raceway 40 and the lower recesses 38 and 39 may be aligned with the lower raceway 41. Accommodated in the recesses 36, 37, 38 and 39 and slidable in the raceways 40 and 41 are ball bearings 42 that accordingly support the latch retractor 27 for rectilinear reciprocation in the housing 13 and parallel to the raceways 46 and 41. The raceways 40 and 41 parallel the direction of intended movement of catch bolt 18.

' The opposite bearing plate 29 is similarly provided with recesses for ball bearing 43, as shown in FIG. 15. The partition wall 23a has raceways 44 and 45 (FIG.

13) in which the balls are slidable. The wall 23a (FIGS.

those of the end wall 23. The inner ends of the slots 48 form seats against which the projections 47 are seated. The wall 23a is staked in position.

A two section coil spring 49, as shown in FIG. 8, extends about the peripheral channel of the latch retractor 27 and between the bearing plates 23 and 3h normally to urge the latch retractor 27 forwardly so that the latch bolt 18 in turn is projected. The ends of the spring 49 are anchored above and below the slot 24 (FIG. 8) by tabs 13a and 13b struck from the casing shell. As the latch retractor 27 moves to the right, energy is stored in the spring for returning the retractor to the position shown.

Before describing how the latch bolt 27 is retracted, the means for attachment of the casing 13 in the bore 10 will first be described.

The open end of the housing 13 has three angularly spaced projections 51 (FIGS. 2, 13 and 16) adjoining the slots 48. These projections 51 enter recesses 52 formed in an outside rose liner 53, and are then upset or bent as indicated in FIG. 2 so that the housing is attached.

The rose liner 53 is generally circular and has a diameter slightly in excess of the diameter of the bore 10 so as to overlie its edges. From the rose liner 53 project two spaced parallel interiorly threaded tubular posts 54 (FIG. 6) that extend along the interior surfaces of the casing 13 at the top and bottom thereof. The partition Wall 2311 has apertures 55 for passage of the posts, and furthermore, the end Wall 23 has apertures 56 for the same purpose. The tubular posts 54 receive mounting screws 57 that are attached to an inside rose liner 58. The inside rose liner 58 surrounds the edges of the opening 10 on the inside of the door. The screws. clamp the rose liners 53 and 58 together until they firmly grip the door. The housing 13 is firmly secured. The thickness of the door determines only the spacing of the rose liners, the posts 54 and screws 57 being long. enough to permit substantial variations.

The'inside and outside spindles 14 and 15 operate the latch retractor 27. Both spindles are journalled upon a tubular bearing post 61. The bearing post 61 is inserted through the open end of the casing 13 and past "a central aperture 62 in the end wall 23. A key slot 63 (FIGS. 10 and 13) receives a tab 64 projecting into the aperture 62 whereby the angular position of the bearing post 61 is determined for reasons presently to be described. The partition wall 23a also has an aperture 65 through which the bearing post 61 passes. The bearing post 61 passes through the latch retractor openings 29:: and a, which are elongated in order to allow reciprocation.

The bearing post 61 is firmly anchored by fitting two spaced portions of the housing 13 so that it is efiectively prevented from tilting out of alignment therewith.

The bearing post 61 carries extensions 68, and 69 at opposite ends. The extensions 68 and 69 are generally tubular, with one end of enlarged diameter. Thus,

4 for example, a shoulder 76 (FIG. 6) is formed intermediate the ends of the extension 69 for purposes hereinafter to be described. The small ends of the extensions are press fitted over the ends of the bearing posts 61 and to an extent determined by raised portions 71 and 72 (FIG. 10) struck laterally outwardly from the bearing post 61.

The spindles 14 and 15 are generally tubular and telescope over the respective extensions and bearing post ends. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, the inner spindle 14 has its outer end fitting the external cylindrical surface of the enlarged part of the extension 69.

The inner end of the spindle 14 carries a cam plate 73 (FIG. 6) that has an aperture '74 journalled on the bearing post 61 just outside the casing wall 23. The cam plate 73 has a series of slots 75 (FIG. 13) located in angularly spaced relationship about its aperture 74 and which receives projections 76'formed on the inner end of the spindle 14. By a staking or upsetting operation, the cam plate 73 is aflixed to the spindle 14. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the inside spindle 14 is rotatably supported at two widely separated points of the bearing post 61, and it is thus prevented from moving out of axial alignment with the housing 13 and other parts.

The outside spindle 15 similarly cooperates with a cam plate 77 (see also FIGS. 4 and 7) and is likewise journalled at spaced points on the bearing post 61.

The bearing post 61 is prevented from moving axially of the housing 13 by the aid of two pre-formed projections 78a and 7% (FIG. 6) that are struck outwardly from the inside of the post 61. These projections are located just on the outside of the corresponding cam plates 77 and '73, and accordingly, prevent axial separation of the spindles from the bearing post 61. At the same time, the projections 78a and 79a prevent the hearing post from moving axially in either direction relative to the housing 13. Thus, upon an attempted movement of the bearing post to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, the projection 78a engages the cam plate 77 which in turn engages the cam plate 77 which in turn engages the outside surface of the housing wall 23a. Upon an attempted movement of the bearing post to the left, the projection 79a engages the cam plate 73, which in turn engages the end wall 23 oi the housing 13.

The cam plate 77 (FIG. 15) is engageable with two lugs 78 and 79 bent outwardly from the top and bottom edges of the end plate 29. These lugs 78 and 79 pass through slots 80 and 81 (FIGS. 4, 7 and 13) formed in the housing wall 23a. The slots 80 and 81 are located just above and below the raceways 44 and 45, and as shown, for example, in FIG. 8, and parallel thereto. Accordingly, the slots 86 and 81 allow movement of the latch retractor in the direction of latch bolt retraction and advancement. The lugs 7 3 and 79 project over a radially reduced section of the cam plate 77 and are in the paths of movement of shoulders 84 and 35 that define the ends of the reduced portion of the cam plate 77. Ears 82 and d3 of the lugs 78 and '79 broaden the area of engagement. Upon rotation of the spindle 15 in a counterclockwise direction from the central position of FIG. 4 to :the position of FIG. 7, the lower ear 83 is engaged by the shoulder 35 and the lobe formed at its end, and the latch retractor Z7 is operated. Similarly, upon rotation of the spindle 15 in a clockwise direction, the upper shoulder 84 engages the ear 32 and the latch retractor 27 is similarly operated. Since the cam plate 77 is enlarged relative to the spindle 15, the movement of the latch bolt 18 for a given angular movement of the spindle is large, and the total movement of the latch bolt 18 is correspondingly large.

The cam plate '73 similarly cooperates with lugs 36 and 87 that project through slots 88 and 89 in the housing end wall 23.

. In order to facilitate rotation of the inside spindle 14, a knob 93 (FIG. 6) is provided. The knob 90 is hollow,

and has a hub portion 91 that telescopes over the spindle 14. The end of the spindle 14 enters the knob 91) and engages the interior surface of the forward wall of the knob to determine the limit of relative telescoping movement. In the present example, the handle 99 has'a central aperture 92 bounded by an inwardly extending cylindrical flange 93 that projects within the end of the post extension 69.

The handle 90 is coupled to the spindle 14 by the aid of an inwardly struck projection 94 located so as to slidably fit a slot formed in the lower portion of the spindle. A snap ring 97 mounted in the spindle has a projection 93 that passes through apertures 99 and 1011 in the spindle and handle hub respectively when the handle 90 is appropriately located. The ring 97, as shown in FIG. 13 I has a split as at 101 that enables it to be constricted so that its projection 98 can clear the handle hub; This place about the inside rose liner 58. The rosette has a central aperture 193 that has clearance relative to the spindle 14 so as to allow the handle hub to project therein to an extent determined by the thickness of the door.

An'outside rose 104 also cooperates with the rose liner 53. An outside handle 195 cooperates with the outer end ofthe spindle 15. As shown in FIG. 3, the outside handle has a preformed web or strap formed by parallel slits in its hub portion that, by the aid of a sharp blow, enter a slit 107 formed in the outer spindle 15 whereby the outside handle 105 is prevented from removal. The outside handle 105, however, relies for its rotary coupling to the outer spindle 15 upon a projection 1118 that slidably fits a spindle slot 109.

The spring 49 of the latch retractor 27 not only returns the latch retractor 2'7, but also serves to return the spindles to a central neutral position. The spring force acts upon the cam plates 73 and 78 through the latch retractor lugs. The shoulders of the cam plate 77 are so situated (FIG. 4) that, under the influence of the spring, they simultaneously engage their lugs 78 and 79 to limit movement of the latch retractor towards latch bolt projecting position, and the cam plates operate as a rocker centered by the latch retractor 27. Thus, the spindle 15 is automatically returned to central neutral position. The camplate 73 for the inner spindle 14 operates similarly.

In order releasably to lock the outer spindle 15, a locking bar 110 (FIGS. 6 and 13) is provided. This locking bar is made of flat stock material and projects into the bearing post '61 from the inside end. Normally, the locking bar is capable of movement inwardly and outwardly of the post in a manner presently to be described. The inner end of the locking bar has a lateral projection or extension 111 that defines a rearwardly facing shoulder 112. The edge of the projection 111 rides along the bearing post 61 and in alignment with a slot '113 that extends inwardly from the outside end of the bearing post 61. The inner end of the slot 113 is located approximately at the center of the latch retractor 27. Upon adequate advancement of the latching bar 110 (compare FIGS. 6 and 7), the projection 111 passes the inner end of the slot 113 and the shoulder 112, moves along the end edge of the slot to the position illustrated in FIG. 3. The projection 111 furthermore then projects through the bearing post 61 (FIG. 4) and engages a slot 114 in the outer cam plate 77. Accordingly, the outer spindle 15 is prevented from rotating. However, the inner cam plate 73 is not-so engaged and it remains free to rotate.

In order to maintain the locking bar 111 in alignment with the bearing post slot 113, two guide washers 115 and 116 are provided (FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 13) that fit in the bearing post 61. The guide washer 115 (FIGS. 11 and 13) has radial projections 117 entering recesses 118 formed about the inside end of the bearing post 61. The

.6 guide Washer projections are staked so that they are secured in position. The guide Washer 116 is inserted into the outside end of the post 61, and similarly has projections 119 fitting slots 126 formed in the bearing post 61 and staked in place. The slots 113a, however, extend inwardly almost to the central area of the bearing post for clearance purposes that will appear hereinafter. The guide washers and 116 have, aligned slots 120 and 121 that extend inwardly from their edges. These slots receive the locking bar 110 and determine its angular orientation.

The locking bar 110 is normally urged downwardly of the bearing post 61 and to the position illustrated in FIG. 6 so as normally to be maintained therein. For this purpose, a tapered coiled compression spring 122 is provided. The spring 122 surrounds the end of the latch bar 1111 that projects beyond the post 61, and its larger end is seated at the shoulder 70 of the bearing postextension 69. The other end of the coil spring 122 engages a retainer ring 123 carried at the end of the locking bar 110.

The retainer ring 123 thus has a slot 124 (FIG. 13) receiving the end of the latch member or bar 110. Bars 125 struck laterally on opposite sides of the locking bar .confine the retainer ring on the locking bar. The retainer member 123 is furthermore seated in the bottom of the recess126 of a cup shaped push button 127. An annular indentation 128 secures the push button and the ring 23. The push button is slidably received at the cylindricalcentral flange 93 of the handle 90. The push button .127 serves as a means for application of digital pressure for operating the locking bar 110.

In order to urge the locking bar 111) into the bearing post slot 113, a bowed spring 130 is provided. The bow spring extends along the upper edge of the locking bar 110 and is carried thereby. Thus the bow spring has an integrally-formedfront clasp 131 and an integrally formed rear clasp 132 each embracing the locking bar. The bowed spring reacts against the inside surface of the bearing post 61 and forces'the projection 111 into the slot 113 upon adequate advancement of the locking bar.

In normal usage, the locking bar 110 is returned inwardly of the bearing post 61 to clear the latching recess 113 of the outer cam 77 merely by operation of the inner spindle 14. For this purpose, the end bearing plate 29 (FIG. 15) has a cam recess 133 extending inwardly from its central aperture29a. When the latch retractor 27 is in its advanced position (FIG. 8), this recess is aligned with the slot 113 of the bearing post. Thus the locking bar 1111 is permitted to enter the latching recess 114 of the outer cam plate 77. However, the recess 133 is so shaped that it engages beneath the projection 111 as latch retractor 27 moves to release the latch bolt 18. The reaction urges the locking bar 115 upwardly until the shoulder 112 clears the end of the slot 113. This, in fact, is accomplished upon a slight initial movement of the inside spindle 14. As soon as the shoulder clears, the tapered coil spring .122 moves the lock bar 110 to the inactive position illustrated in FIG. 6.

In order to avoid separate fabrication of parts and to avoid complications on assembly, the opposite bearing wall 311 of the latch retractor is provided with an equivalent recess 133a (FIG. 13) that, in the present example, is inoperative. For similar purposes, the cam plates 73 and 77 have slots 114a, 1141) and 114c that are all inoperative in the particular assembly illustrated.

For safety purposes, the locking bar 110 can be released by simple manipulation at the outside knob 105. For this purpose, a releasing plunger 134 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is provided. The releasing plunger 134 is generally tubular, and is slidably mounted in the end of the bearing post 61. The outer end of the releasing plunger 134 has an enlarged head '135 that slides within the enlarged portion of the bearing post extension 68. A tapered coil spring 136 surrounds the releasing plunger and has one end engaging the shoulder 137 formed intermediate the length of the extension 68, and its other end engaging the head 135 to urge the plunger outwardly. Tabs 138 (see FIG.

14) bent inwardly of the end of the bearing post extension stop the outward movement of the plunger 134.

In the position of FIG. 3, the latch bar 110 is operative, and its inner end just clears the retracted releasing plunger 134. The forward end of the locking bar 110 is in the path of inward movement of the edge of the releasing plunger 134,. Such movement releases the locking bar. For this purpose, the end surface 140 of the locking bar has a sloping configuration so that upon inward motion of the plunger 134, the locking bar 110 is camrned inwardly of the bearing post 61.

The knob 105 has a central aperture 141 by the aid of which a suitable instrument may be inserted so as to engage the head 134 and thereby advance the releasing plunger 134 against the force of its return spring 136.

The inventor claims:

1. In a lock structure: a lock housing; a latch retractor guided by the housing for limited movement in a path fixed with respect to the housing; spring means urging the latch retractor toward one end of its path; a bearing p'ost supported by the housing and having ends projecting beyond opposite ends of the housing; an inside spindle fitting over one end of the bearing post and supported for angular movement thereby about the common axis of the inside spindle and the post, said inside spindle being supported by said bearing post at axially spaced parts thereof; an outside spindle fitting over the other end of the bearing post and supported for angular movement thereby about the common axis of the outside spindle and the bearing post, said outside spindle being supported by said bearing post at axially spaced parts thereof; and cam means carried at the inner ends of the respective spindles for retracting said latch retractor.

2. In a lock structure: a lock housing; a latch retractor guided by the housing for limited movement in a path fixed with respect to the housing; spring means urging the latch retractor toward one end of its path; a bearing post supported by the housing and having ends projeoting beyond opposite ends of the housing; an inside spindle fitting over one end of the bearing post and supported for angular movement thereby about the common axis of the inside spindle and the post, said inside spindle being supported post, said outside spindle being supported by said bearing post at axially spaced parts thereof; said housing having a pair of walls located on opposite sides of said latch retractor to enclose said latch retractor; said walls having aligned apertures at which said bearing post is supported; said latch retractor having lugs projecting through slots of the walls by the aid of which said latch retractor is accessible exteriorly of the walls; and cam means carried at the inner ends of the spindles for engaging said lugs to retract said latch retractor.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said cam means have operating lobes spaced radially outwardly of the spindles to provide a large proportion between retracting movement of the latch retractor and angular movement of the spindles.

4. In a lock structure: a housing having a hollow shell and a pair of parallel walls extending across the shell; said parallel walls having parallel raceways; a latch retractor guided by said raceways for movement transversely of the shell; each of said walls having upper and lower slots paralleling the raceways; said latch retractor having parts projecting through the slots; a bearing post extending through the walls and the latch retractor; spindle telescoped over and mounted on the bearing post ends respectively, and having cam means engageable with the latch retractor parts for operating the latch retractor; and means 8 projecting outwardly of the post interlocking the spindles for-preventing axial retraction thereof. 7

5. In a lock structure: a generally cylindrical shell having an end wall extending across one end of the shell and an intermediate wall extending across the shell; a latch retractor between the walls and guided thereby; said shell having projections at its otherend; an outside rose liner fitting the projections and secured thereby to the other end of said shell and having a pair of threaded fastening means extending along the inside of the shell at angularly spaced positions thereabout; an inside rose liner; and companion threaded fastening means attached to the inside rose liner and engageable with the fastening means carried by said outside rose liner for clamping a door between the rose liners with the shell in a bore of the door.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said shell has slots extending in an axial direction inwardiy from said other end and between said projections, said intermediate Wall being peripherally formed to interfit said shell slots.

7. In a lock structure: a shell adapted to be accommodated in a door aperture; spaced walls extending transversely of the shell and in planes substantially parallel to the door; a latch retractor between the walls; said latch retractor having a central portion providing means interengageable with a latch bolt for retracting the latch bolt; bearing plates attached to the sides of the latch retractor and guided by the walls to determine a path of movement of the latch retractor; a tension spring extending about the central portion of the latch retractor and between said bearing plates with ends secured to the shell on opposite sides of the latch bolt retracting means, and with the intermediate portion of the tension spring engaging the latch retractor at the area opposite the latch bolt retracting means.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7 in which the intermediate portion of said spring has a minimal dimension whereby the operative energy storing portions of the spring are out of the path of the latch retractor; said latch retractor and said walls having central apertures; a bearing post supported by said walls and passing through said latch retractor; and spindles telescoping over opposite ends of the bearing post and mounted thereby, said spindles having parts engageable with the retractor for moving the retractor.

9. In a lock structure: a housing; a bearing post extending through the housing; a latch retractor in the housing and guided thereby for movement in a path that clears said bearing post; an outer spindle mounted on one end of said bearing post; an inner spindle mounted on the other end of said bearing post; each of said spindles having parts engageable with parts of said latch retractor for independent operation of said latch retractor; a locking bar in the bearing post and having a projection registrable with a slot of said bearing post upon movement of said locking bar in a direction toward the outer spindle; first spring means normally urging the locking bar toward said inner spindle; said locking bar having a button accessible at said other end of the bearing post for moving the locking bar against the force of said first spring means; second spring means urging said locking bar laterally of said bearing post so as to project into said bearing post slot upon registration therewith; said outside spindle having a slot receiving said projection upon movement through the bearing post slot; said latch retractor having cam means for moving the locking bar inwardly of the post to release the outside spindle upon retraction of the latch retractor by operation of said inner spindle.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 9 in which said bearing post mounts a plunger at its said one end for limited axial reciprocation therein; spring means urging said plunger to its outer limit; said plunger and said locking bar having parts engageable with each other upon inward movement of said plunger for urging said locking bar inwardly of said bearing post independently of the operation of said latch retractor.

11. In a lock structure: a shell adapted to be accommodated in a door aperture; spaced walls attached to and extending transversely of the shell and in planes substantially parallel to the door; a latch retractor guided in the shell for movement parallel to said Walls, said latch retractor having a central portion providing means interengageable with a latch bolt for retracting a latch bolt; a bearing post projecting through said shell and supported by said walls at spaced portions of said post; and spindles telescoping over opposite ends of the said bearing post and mounted thereby, said spindles having parts engageable with the latch retractor for moving the latch retractor 12. The combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said bearing post is provided with outwardly struck portions interlocking the spindles so as to prevent their axial separation from the bearing post.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said shell has openings at opposite ends, one of said Walls extending across the opening at one end, and the other of said walls being spaced inwardly of the other opening of the shell, and a rose liner attached to the shell at said other opening and mounting said shell, said rose liner having an aperture providing clearance peripherally of the post for accommodation of the corresponding spindle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,733,088 Fisler Jan. 31, 1956 2,738,665 North at al Mar. 20, 1956 2,759,754 Kaiser Aug. 21, 1956 2,764,445 Cerf Sept. 25, 1956 2,795,948 Rayburn June 18, 1957 

1. IN A LOCK STRUCTURE: A LOCK HOUSING; A LATCH RETRACTOR GUIDED BY THE HOUSING FOR LIMITED MOVEMENT IN A PATH FIXED WITH RESPECT TO THE HOUSING; SPRING MEANS URGING THE LATCH RETRACTOR TOWARD ONE END OF ITS PATH; A BEARING POST SUPPORTED BY THE HOUSING AND HAVING ENDS PROJECTING BEYOND OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE HOUSING; AN INSIDE SPINDLE FITTING OVER ONE END OF THE BEARING POST AND SUPPORTED FOR ANGULAR MOVEMENT THEREBY ABOUT THE COMMON AXIS OF THE INSIDE SPINDLE AND THE POST, SAID INSIDE SPINDLE BEING SUPPORTED BY SAID BEARING POST AT AXIALLY SPACED PARTS THEREOF; AN OUTSIDE SPINDLE FITTING OVER THE OTHER END OF THE BEARING POST AND SUPPORTED FOR ANGULAR MOVEMENT THEREBY ABOUT THE COMMON AXIS OF THE OUTSIDE SPINDLE AND THE BEARING POST, SAID OUTSIDE SPINDLE BEING SUPPORTED BY SAID BEARING 